Vol. 73/No. 44      November 16, 2009

Since the beginning of the semester, workers at the cafeteria had been fighting for AVI to honor the terms of the agreement with Sodexo, their previous contractor. It included paid health-care benefits and pensions. AVI refused.

On October 30 cafeteria workers ratified a new three-year contract that maintains health-care benefits for full-time workers and their families, gives a $500 lump sum payment for this year, and a 43-cent-an-hour raise for each of the next two years.

Workers will keep the pension funds earned under Sodexo, but in the new contract AVI will put money toward a union 401(k) retirement plan instead of a pension.

Many actions took place leading up to the agreement. On September 3 the workers organized a 15-minute work stoppage during the lunch hour rush. In response, AVI began to hire temporary workers in fear of a strike.

On October 5 more than 100 students, faculty, staff, and other supporters joined a spirited rally in front of the college.

More than 1,000 students signed petitions supporting the workers’ demands. Debbie Johnson, cashier and member of the union negotiating committee, said her manager “turned beet red” when she handed him the petitions.

She also reported that fewer people were purchasing food at the cafeteria during the negotiations.

The union had called for a boycott for October 29, but the company backed down before the action could take place.

“It’s been a long road but we conquered. We stood strong and united,” said Johnson at the reception. She thanked the students and faculty for their support.
 
 
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